CVE-2026-105903 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 10/13/2026
ColdFusion is affected by an Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. A low-privileged attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within Adobe ColdFusion, classified as an Improper Control of Generation of Code, commonly referred to in industry standards as CWE-95 or Code Injection. This specific type of vulnerability arises when the application fails to properly validate, sanitize, or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated code segments. In the context of ColdFusion, this often involves server-side scripting languages such as CFML where dynamic evaluation functions are used to process data from external sources without adequate safeguards against malicious payloads. The core technical flaw lies in the failure to distinguish between executable code and safe data inputs, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary commands that the application engine interprets and executes directly within its runtime environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the potential for Arbitrary Code Execution with a changed scope. Typically, web applications operate under restricted user privileges to limit the blast radius of any successful compromise. However, in this instance, exploitation does not require user interaction, meaning an attacker can trigger the flaw remotely through automated requests without needing social engineering or physical access to the victim's machine. Once exploited, the injected code executes within the context of the current user running the ColdFusion service. Depending on how the application server is configured and deployed, this could mean execution under a low-privileged account, but in many enterprise environments, these services run with elevated permissions necessary for database connectivity or file system access. Consequently, an attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system, effectively taking control of the affected server instance.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Command and Scripting Interpreter abuse, specifically those involving dynamic code evaluation such as T1059 or its variants depending on the specific implementation details within ColdFusion's architecture. The lack of required user interaction classifies it as an attack vector that can be leveraged by automated worm-like malware or opportunistic scanners targeting exposed internet-facing services. This significantly increases the likelihood of widespread exploitation in unpatched environments, particularly where legacy systems remain online and accessible from public networks without sufficient network-level segmentation or web application firewall protections to detect anomalous code injection patterns.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and architectural hardening. The primary remediation is applying the latest security updates provided by Adobe ColdFusion, which address the specific input validation gaps allowing for this code injection. Organizations should ensure that their update management processes are agile enough to deploy these patches promptly across all production and staging environments. Additionally, implementing defense-in-depth measures is crucial. This includes configuring Web Application Firewalls with rulesets capable of detecting common code injection signatures and blocking requests containing suspicious characters or patterns associated with dynamic evaluation functions. Network segmentation should also be reviewed to ensure that ColdFusion servers are not directly exposed to the internet but are instead placed behind secure proxies or load balancers that can inspect traffic before it reaches the application server. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on input validation flaws will help identify similar weaknesses in other components of the infrastructure, ensuring a more resilient security posture against evolving threat actors seeking remote code execution capabilities.